(Note: I wrote this article some time ago. I have made much progress since then. Here is the start of my quest.)

Years ago I moved to Colorado from Illinois. Back then I wasn’t a birder. Birding as a hobby for me has only happened in the last 3 years. I often think about all of the species I missed out on seeing when I lived under the Mississippi flyway. Okay, I’ll be honest, I’m mainly thinking about warblers.

I have also realized that to advance in my career I may have to take a position out of state. I don’t want to leave the front range of Colorado, but it might need doing to secure my financial future.

My past and uncertain future have started to impend upon how I spend my time. In case I have to leave the state, I need to make the most out of my life in Colorado.

Now to be clear, my time thus far has not been wasted. I am always outside somewhere. In terms of sites seen, I have done more than most people have or ever will. While birding in Colorado, I have seen 319 species and visited 46 of 64 counties. My top rarities are probably the Gunnison Sage Grouse, Yellow Grosbeak, Arctic Loon, and two Limpkins during the Hot Limpkin Summer.

Still, I am missing an opportunity. I live here now. I should be focused on western species (which includes very few warblers unfortunately). Therefore, my new goal is to find birds that are either exclusively or primarily in Colorado. I’ll also be searching for birds that are plentiful in other western states, but that have small populations in Colorado.

Not only will this approach give me lifers but it will add to my state list as well. 

It occurred to me that my needs list may be of use to others. Below is the list of birds I still need to see. I have included some limited information on where to find them so that this isn’t just a list of names. 

Black Rosy-Finch – Brown-capped Rosy-Finch – Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch – Two of these finches are endangered species and the other is listed as Least Concern. These finches call a few western states home. These birds summer in the high elevations of the mountains, often feeding above tree line. The easiest way to find these finches is to hope that they come to feeders at lower elevations during winter. Then hope that you are invited to said feeders by the homeowners (or that the feeder is viewable from the road).

Cassia Crossbill – Once thought to be limited to a small portion of Idaho, birders here with the help of new technology have demonstrated that this species has likely been in Colorado right under, but mostly over, our noses the entire time. I have some extra skills to develop if I want to locate one of these. Specifically learning how to read the sound files and determine Cassia from other red crossbills.

Common Poorwill – This species is seen across a wide range of states from Nebraska to California, and Montana south to Mexico. This is a good species to listen for at night in Colorado. More often heard than seen, I may have to settle for sound ID alone on this species. However, with a little luck a visual is possible.

White-tailed Ptarmigan – These high elevation specialists are in prime habitat here. While any spot above the treeline yields the possibility for ptarmigan, a few places are better than others. Mt. Audubon trail, most easily accessed via Mitchell Lake Trailhead at Brainard Lake Recreation Area, is a popular hike that often provides a chance to meet these birds at 12,000 feet and above. If hiking up 1500 plus feet of vertical isn’t your jam then try Kite Lake, in Park County. You can drive to the lake at 12,000 feet elevation and then walk into the basin it occupies to search. Just be cautious and respectful as this spot borders a good deal of private land (marked by signs at the lake). There is extremely limited parking and the road is rough and unpaved but still passable for cars. The last mile of the road closes in winter (bring snowshoes just in case) and has to be traversed on foot.

Flammulated Owl – This one is right up the road from me in Long Canyon. I just need to get into the foothills at night during summer to hear one. This one will probably get added as a lifer on sound alone.

Black Rail – There are isolated sightings in southeastern Colorado, but the west side of John Martin Reservoir is known to hold some of this species in the summer. Most folks identify by sound at night and the reports drop off after early summer. No one seems to know whether they go silent or leave the area entirely.

Dusky Grouse – Common on the westward slope these birds can also be found in lesser numbers along the foothills of the front range.

Greater Sage-grouse  – A northwest Colorado species with accessible roadside lek sites.

Lesser Prairie-chicken  – An occasional sighting happens along the southern Kansas and Oklahoma borders. Questions abound as to whether these are accurate identifications. Efforts to re-introduce this bird in Colorado have been nothing short of disastrous. Overgrazing by ranchers, both past and present, has made reintroduction near impossible. I don’t have high hopes of finding this species in Colorado but if I run out of other birds then I will be making trips down just in case. For this one I’ll probably have to visit Kansas.

Ruffed Grouse  – According to eBird reports there is a small pocket of sightings in the extreme northwest corner of the state just north of Dinosaur National Monument. If I’m there I will look, but I honestly don’t think this one is worth the effort given the remote location and small chance of payoff.

Scaled Quail  – The southeast corner of Colorado affords the opportunity to find this bird. Not many people go birding on the plains of Colorado so the limited sightings likely do not reflect the chances of seeing this species. I imagine this is a bird that I will find while looking for other birds.

Sharp-tailed Grouse  – A northwest Colorado bird with lek sites that can be visited. There are some sightings along the plains that border the front range near Wyoming. 

White-winged Crossbill  – A smattering of birds here and there. This is truly a remarkable species. White-winged Crossbills are nomadic. They travel looking for food and when that food is sufficient they settle in and raise a brood regardless of what time of year it is. If none are reported I just have to put myself in mountain forests and hope for the best.

Least Tern – These nest at John Martin Reservoir.

Piping Plover – Also a species that nests at John Martin Reservoir.

Spotted Owl – Yes you read that correctly. There are spotted owls in Colorado. They are the Mexican subspecies. In the Wet Mountains there are small populations of owls that are being monitored. The locations are not widely known. Those who do know them don’t share them. I do not wish to disturb this sensitive species so all I really need is to hear a call or two. I’ll try for a visual another time in another place. 

Gray Vireo – The area’s along the western slope should afford a view of this bird.

Black Swift – Small populations consisting of a handful of birds can be seen in the state. Some years, my home county of Boulder will host a few nests at Ouzel Falls located in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Wild Basin. More reliably though are the waterfalls of the western slope, such as the one in Ouray at Box Canyon Falls.

Chukar – An exotic species that has taken to living in the rocky, arid parts of Colorado’s western slope. Chukars can occasionally be found in other parts of the state but only count toward species totals (eBird) in a few areas. I imagine this species is easier heard than found. A reliable spot is Coal Canyon, the mouth of which sits at the former town site of Cameo. It is also a wild horse area so be on the lookout for those as well.

Band-tailed Pigeon – These frequent the town of Allenspark during summer months.

New State Birds

The species below have populations in Colorado. I have seen all of them elsewhere but never in Colorado. These are my state lifer targets.

Grace and Lucy Warblers – Both of these are on the western slope near wooded canyons. A trip to find one is likely to turn up the other.

Greater Roadrunner – Found in the southern part of the state from Pueblo on down mostly. 

Rufous-crowned Sparrow – These birds seem to prefer the arid southeast canyons of Colorado. This is interesting because when I found them in Arizona none were in this type of habitat.

Alright. Now that I know what I’m looking for, let the quest begin!

Checklists

Here are the checklists for each species that I have found so far. I will update as I go. Click on the date to see the checklist.

Black Rosy-Finch – 14 Jan 2024
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch – 19 Nov 2023
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch – 19 Nov 2023
Cassia Crossbill –
Common Poorwill – 13 Jun 2024
White-tailed Ptarmigan – 03 Sep 2023
Flammulated Owl – 13 Jun 2024
Black Rail –
Dusky Grouse –
Greater Sage-Grouse – 14 May 2024
Lesser Prairie-Chicken –
Ruffed Grouse –
Scaled Quail – 26 Nov 2023
Sharp-tailed Grouse – 21 Apr 2024
White-winged Crossbill – 08 Jul 2024
Least Tern –
Piping Plover –
Spotted Owl –
Gray Vireo – 23 Jun 2024
Black Swift – 23 Jun 2024
Chukar – 23 Jun 2024
Band-tailed Pigeon – 28 May 2024
Grace Warbler – 14 Jun 2024
Lucy Warbler – 29 Apr 2025
Greater Roadrunner – 02 Nov 2024
Rufous-crowned Sparrow – 15 Dec 2024